Сен-Леонар (Монреаль): История, Транспорт и Современность

Saint Leonard ('/l//iː//oʊ//n//ɑr//d/ LEEohnard; sɛ̃ leonaʁ) is a borough (arrondissement) of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Formerly a separate city, it was amalgamated into the city of Montreal in 2002. The former city was originally called Saint Leonard de Port Maurice after Leonard of Port Maurice, an Italian saint. The borough is home to Montreal's Via Italia.

Saint Leonard is located in the northeastern part of the Island of Montreal. It is bordered by five boroughs: Montréal Nord to the north and northwest, Anjou to the east, Mercier–Hochelaga Maisonneuve to the southeast, Rosemont–La Petite Patrie to the south and Villeray–Saint Michel–Parc Extension to the southwest and west. Jean Talon Street East (Rue Jean Talon Est) traverses through the borough, connecting it to Villeray–Saint Michel–Parc Extension and Anjou.

Quebec Autoroute 40 (Autoroute Métropolitaine), part of the Trans Canada Highway, traverses the area. Exits 76, 77 and 78 are in Saint Leonard.

Public transportation in Saint Leonard is managed by the Société de transport de Montréal (STM). Saint Leonard has an extensive bus network in the borough with a total of 14 bus routes. There are 12 daytime routes including two express routes and 2 night routes. The STM's 141 Jean Talon Est bus serves Jean Talon Street East, with buses taking off at every 10 minutes maximum during peak hours from Saint Michel and Honoré Beaugrand metro stations. The Mascouche Exo line runs through the borough and has a stop at Gare Saint Léonard Montréal Nord. While lacking in a connection to the Metro system, the future Blue Line extension of the Montreal Metro, which is previewed to open in 2029, will have three stations located in Saint Leonard, with all of them located along Jean Talon Street East. The REM de l'est is a planned light rail rapid transit system that would connect Saint Leonard and the rest of eastern Montreal to the Downtown core in less than 30 minutes. It will have a connection to the metro's future Blue Line extension at Lacordaire.

Carrefour Langelier is a small sized shopping mall located in Saint Leonard, at the corner of Jean Talon Street East and Langelier Boulevard. Saint Leonard is also home to the Le Boulevard shopping centre, although a portion of the mall is actually located in Villeray–Saint Michel–Parc Extension.

An important English, French and Italian community centre, the Leonardo Da Vinci Centre (Centre Leonardo Da Vinci) is located along Lacordaire Boulevard, near Aréna Martin Brodeur.

The parish of Saint Leonard de Port Maurice was founded in April 1886 and eventually became the City of Saint Leonard de Port Maurice on March 5, 1915. Saint Leonard was traditionally a rural francophone hamlet with under a thousand people until the mid twentieth century. The town became increasingly developed and urban throughout the twentieth century, benefiting from the expansion of the City of Montreal and a massive wave of Italian immigration which enriched life in the area with numerous cafes and restaurants. In 2016, the number of Italian Canadians in Saint Leonard was 25,510. Maghrebis people make up a diverse group in the city; 3,900 people are of Berber ethnic origin and 3,770 people are of Arab ethnic origin. As such, it has surpassed Montreal's rapidly gentrifying Little Italy as the centre for Italian culture in the city, with numerous cultural institutions and commercial enterprises serving the city's second most populous cultural community. At some times of year, it is possible to observe seasonal Italian traditions like the making of wine, cheese, sausage, and tomato sauce in quantity. These activities bring extended families and neighbours together and often spill out into front driveways.

The Saint Leonard Aquatic Complex was built in 2006 and is home to three swimming pools: one recreational basin, one pool and one acclimation basin that includes a turbo bath spa. There are also two saunas, one for women and one for men.

Skaters can skate safely in the skate park located in Parc Delorme. Admission to the park is free, and it is open to the public May through October.

Saint Leonard has 10 km of bike paths around the borough, that connect various parks, pools and municipal structures. On November 1, 2022, the city of Montreal announced its Vision vélo 2023 2027 which plans to increase Montreal's cycling network by 200 km. This includes 2 REV (Réseau Express Vélo) routes passing through Saint Leonard on Lacordaire Boulevard and the other on Jean Talon Street. If all goes to plan this will be the first time that Saint Leonard will be connected to the rest of the Montreal bike network. A bike repair station is located next to the bike path on the Boulevard Robert entrance to Parc Wilfrid Bastien.

Saint Léonard has two hockey arenas, Aréna Martin Brodeur, located on 5300 Boulevard Robert, and Aréna Roberto Luongo, located on 7755 Rue Colbert. These arenas host local games, and usually provide food, locker rooms, showers and public free skating. Saint Léonard also has many outdoor hockey rinks in the winter. There are seven rinks set up before winter, and then they are iced when the temperature is appropriate. There was a delay of rink making in 2007 when the weather was warmer than usual.

Soccer is a very popular sport for the youth in Saint Léonard. Every large public park in Saint Léonard has a soccer field open to the public.

Both Saint Léonard arenas are used by the figure skating community. Many Olympic and World Champions have trained here in different disciplines like singles, pairs, dance and synchronized skating.

The borough of Saint Léonard’s Library is part of the Montreal Public Libraries Network. Saint Léonard's first library opened in 1966, in a very modest house on Jarry Street. In 1974, the new city hall and current library were built side by side on Lacordaire Boulevard (photo to the right). Expanded in 1984, the library has modernized over the years and is home to the Port Maurice Gallery.

Saint Léonard leans heavily Liberal at both the provincial and federal levels. While at the municipal level it leans exclusively towards Ensemble Montréal. Jeanne Mance–Viger is the electoral district representing the borough of Saint Léonard in the National Assembly in Quebec city. The current MNA is Filomena Rotiroti from the QLP first elected in 2008. Saint Léonard—Saint Michel is the electoral district representing Saint Léonard in the House of Commons in Ottawa. The current MP is Patricia Lattanzio from the LPC first elected in 2019.

Saint Léonard is the hometown of notable people such as Roberto Luongo, Nadia G and Martin Brodeur. Notable companies from Saint Léonard include Saputo Inc., FSecur, Lafrenaie, FinePrints, and a few others. Saint Léonard is also the place where the Snow blower was invented by one of their citizens, Arthur Sicard.